What is a positioning flight?

A separate flight to the city where the main trip starts, taken because a fare from there is cheaper or better.

Positioning flight, explained

Business class fares can differ a lot between departure cities. Flying first to a city with a lower fare, then starting the business class trip there, is called positioning.

The positioning flight is usually a separate ticket. If it is late and you miss the main flight, the airline of the main ticket has no duty to rebook you, so travelers leave a wide margin, often the night before.

Bags are not checked through between separate tickets either, and the total cost includes the extra flight, the time and sometimes a hotel night.

On a business class trip

A traveler in a smaller city compares the fare to Europe from home with the fare from a large hub an hour away, adding a separate flight to the hub the evening before.

Related terms

Hub airport
An airport where an airline bases its network and connects most of its flights, such as Frankfurt for Lufthansa or Doha for Qatar Airways.
Multi-city ticket
One ticket with three or more flights between different cities, priced and issued together rather than as separate tickets.
Minimum connection time
The shortest time an airport and airline allow between two connecting flights on one ticket. Tickets are never sold with less.
Interline agreement
An agreement between airlines to carry each other's passengers and bags on one ticket, even outside an alliance.